MASTERPIECE Announces Second Season of Miss Scarlet and The Duke

Boston, MA; March 29, 2021 - MASTERPIECE and Element 8 Entertainment have announced a second season of Miss Scarlet and The Duke, the popular mystery starring Kate Phillips as the fearless, first-ever female detective in Victorian London and Stuart Martin as her childhood friend and potential love interest Inspector William "The Duke" Wellington.

Almost eight million viewers tuned in to the series' first season, which premiered on PBS in January as part of MASTERPIECE 's 50th anniversary lineup. It was streamed 3.6 million times.

"Miss Scarlet and The Duke was an instant fan favorite," says Susanne Simpson, executive producer of MASTERPIECE. "Our audience couldn't resist its lighthearted tone and the appealing characters so wonderfully portrayed by Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin. We're delighted the show will return for a second season." MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by GBH Boston.

In a performance called "enthralling" by IndieWire, Phillips (The Crown, Wolf Hall) plays Eliza Scarlet, daughter of a retired investigator played by Kevin Doyle (Downton Abbey), who tutored young Eliza in the crime-solving arts. When he dies, she is left penniless and determined to become a private detective to support herself. Unfortunately, detectives have always been men, but a family friend at Scotland Yard called The Duke and played by Martin (Jamestown) offers to help. So begins a collaboration that grows into something more ardent. "Will they or won't they?" became the subject of much speculation across MASTERPIECE social communities.

Writer/Creator Rachael New says: "I'm absolutely thrilled at the news that Miss Scarlet and The Duke will be back for a season 2. I have so much in store for Duke, Eliza and her crew. With even more action, adventure and of course a nice big dollop of romance, it's going to be a cracking season. The fans are going to LOVE it!"

"We have found our dream partners in MASTERPIECE and PBS Distribution," says Patricia Lenahan Ishimoto, Managing Partner, Element 8. "They have embraced the series and given us the gift of creative license to continue to unfold the magic that Rachael New has so thoughtfully crafted for Eliza, Duke and their eclectic band of friends. We can't wait to see what she has in store for them."

The second season of Miss Scarlet and the Duke will air on MASTERPIECE on PBS in 2022.

Season 2 of Miss Scarlet and The Duke is a Co-Production of Element 8 Entertainment and MASTERPIECE in association with Patrick Irwin and Todd Berger. It was created by Rachael New and written by Rachael New and Ben Edwards. The lead director is Steve Hughes. It is distributed by PBSd.

Funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking(R) and Raymond James, with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The Masterpiece Trust, created to help ensure the series' future.

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